Incumbent Republican Greg Murphy holds a strong position in North Carolina’s 3rd congressional district ahead of the November 3, 2026, general election, supported by the district’s R+6 Cook Partisan Voting Index after the October 2025 redistricting and his 77.4% victory in 2024. Murphy ran unopposed in the Republican primary while Democrat Raymond Smith Jr. secured his party’s nomination in March with 56.7% against Allison Jaslow. Murphy maintains a substantial fundraising edge, with over $2.6 million cash on hand as of June 2026 compared to Smith’s roughly $74,000. Forecasters rate the race Solid or Likely Republican, and a July-August poll showed Murphy narrowly ahead among likely voters. The November contest remains the key upcoming event that will determine resolution.